“The Legacy of the Sky Pendant” by Jonathan Crayford

Today I’m delighted to present (my first post Llandeilo Festival of Senses) book review and what would be more appropriate than to indulge in the book of a Llandeilo born author.

“The Legacy of the Sky Pendant” by Jonathan Crayford is the intriguing offering by a promising new voice in fantasy writing.
The book is the first in a series and consists of two parts. In the first Marcus defends his home town and country against malignant invaders with the help of the Sky Pendant’s energy. As an inexperienced yet resourceful young man he brings new ideas to wit to the struggle and soon earns the respect of king and country.

In the second episode the pendant is passed down to a generation 98 years later. In this story another young man also meets a challenge, although a fairly different one: winning a race against a tough competitor during a festival.

The story lines and characters are classic fantasy and adventure fare with great suspense, battle scenes and the marvellous fighting spirit of those determined to win and prove themselves.

The book benefits from the change from one protagonist in the first part to the second in the next – making the mysterious pendant the quiet but never forgotten focal point.
The stories are united by plenty of parallels and common themes: pride, ambition and striving to be the best we can.

Marcus and Cruise as youthful fighters show how inexperience can be overcome by audacity and focus while innovation and fresh ideas can build on what has been achieved in the past. Much thought has gone into portraying the manifold and powerful themes within this novel, making it a very enjoyable and rewarding, rich and refreshing read.

I have no doubt we’ll be hearing more of Jonathan Crayford in the future and I look forward to see the story and his writing developing. Well done to a marvellous debut.

You can get the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1732026874

Connect with Jonathan:
Website: jonathancrayfordauthor.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JonCrayford

Offical Blurb:
As Marcus stands patiently at his post at the castle wall, ready to defend his home village of Soulwind, he fumbles a strange pendant fastened securely around his neck and is completely oblivious to its enhancing effects, and also of its origin.

Who are these strangers who have suddenly turned up in the peaceful kingdom of Termelanor? And what do they want?

The Author

Jonathan Crayford is an exciting new author based in the heart of Wales.
Jonathan has been interested in writing from a very young age.
As a first language Welsh speaker, writing stories in English proved challenging at first however Jonathan’s passion for storytelling continued through
to secondary school, where his favourite subject was English literature.

Upon entering the working world Jonathan lost touch with his passion for writing as he experienced many different Jobs, from Butchery to Architecture, and he even took some time out to travel in Europe and Asia.

Jonathan’s love of writing re kindled some time in his mid twenties.

Jonathan now lives in a small peaceful village tucked away in picturesque South West Wales. He writes during his spare time between his day job working for the local emergency services.

Jonathan Crayford is currently working on a sequel to ‘The Legacy of the Sky Pendant’.

2018 Tribute to Veterans

The Dying Minutes of World War One

A very poignant post about the last minutes of World War One

historywithatwist

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918 brought peace, at last, to the war-ravaged fields of Flanders and other blood-soaked theatres of carnage. To
those three elevens would be added another – 11,000 men were killed or wounded on
that last day before the guns finally stopped firing.

It is a cruel irony that men who had fervently prayed they would make it home to
their loved ones would fall as the final hours and minutes ticked down to the
armistice.

In frontline aid stations, in hospitals and in convalescence facilities far beyond the
sound of gunfire, soldiers would die as the minutes ticked down to peace. Historian
Tom Burnell estimates that 29 Irishmen lost their lives on that final day… most of
them to pneumonia, disease or by succumbing to wounds received days earlier.

However, four of them were killed in action that last…

View original post 1,044 more words

November 9th – another memorable day in German history

There are always particularly memorable days in each nation’s history. In Germany one of those days that is engraved in my mind is November 9th. No other day had so many hugely significant events linked to the date. It always make me feel serious and overly conscious of the fragility of life and politics:

In 1918 the day brought the end of the monarchies in 1918:

Kaiser Wilhelm II was dethroned in the November Revolution by his chancellor Max von Baden, who published the news before the emperor had actually abdicated.
The same day Philipp Scheidemann proclaimed the German republic from a window of the Reichstag, keen to proclaim the republic before the communists did.
He just beat Karl Liebknecht, who proclaimed a “Free Socialist Republic” from a balcony of the Berliner Stadtschloss. 

In 1922 Albert Einstein was named the winner of the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics “for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect”

In 1923, the failed Beer Hall Putsch, from 8 to 9 November, marks an early emergence and provisional downfall of the Nazi Party as an important player on Germany’s political landscape. Without sufficient preparation Hitler simply declared himself leader in Munich, Bavaria. Hitler’s march through Munich was stopped by Bavarian police who opened fire. Sixteen nationalists and four policemen were killed. During the Nazi rule 9 November was a national holiday in Germany in memory of the Nazis who died in the beer hall Putsch.

In 1938, in what is today known in German as Kristallnacht (“Night of Broken Glass”), from 9 to 10 November, synagogues and Jewish property were burned and destroyed on a large scale, and more than four hundred Jews were killed or driven to suicide. The event demonstrated that the antisemitic stance of the Nazi regime was not so ‘moderate’ as it had appeared partially in earlier years. After 10 November, about 30,000 Jews were arrested; many of them later died in concentration camps.

In 1989 the fall of the Berlin wall ended German separation and started a series of events that ultimately led to German reunification and the Fall of Communism in eastern Europe. November 9 was considered for the date for German Unity Day, but as it was also the anniversary of Kristallnacht, this date was considered inappropriate as a national holiday. The date of the formal reunification of Germany, 3 October 1990, therefore, was chosen as the date for this German national holiday instead, to replace 17 June, the celebration of the uprising of 1953 in East Germany.

Llandovery writers group launches “Turnings of the Years” Anthology

Turnings of the Years 

33 Tales and Poems , including contributions by blog regulars

Graham Watkins, Sally Spedding, David Thorpe, Kate Glanville, Phil Carradice, John Thompson, Colin Parsons and Will Macmillan Jones

An eclectic collection of short stories and tales from Wales exploring the human condition, humorous tales, short stories with a twist and stories in time. All profits from sales of ‘The Turnings of the Years’ are going to Llandovery Youth and Community Centre. ‘The Turnings of the Years’ is a compendium of thirty-three classic tales from more than twenty different authors, some established names, others just starting their literary adventures.

How to obtain copies

    Online:

Here’s a link to where the print book can be ordered on Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/shop/llandovery-writers/the-turnings-of-the-years/paperback/product-23824386.html

and the Amazon e-book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Turnings-Years-short-things-around-ebook/dp/B07HHD5B5D/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1537862237

BUT:  if people buy off the web then less money comes back to the Centre as these guys take their cut. All the profit does if you sell direct.

The book retails for £9 and just over half of this will go to the centre in Llandovery. So if we sell 200 copies then they get £1000. Jill, the manager, is very happy.

Price: For resale, copies can be bought at £7.

To purchase these you can EITHER:

a) come to Llandovery and get them from the Community Centre on Broad Street in working hours (M-F, 10-5), paying the manager Jill Tatman

b) order by post but you have to add £2 per copy p+p.

How to order if you order by post:
either use PayPal or BACS bank transfer:
1. PayPal: to  Paypal account ajuliangray@gmail.com. Then send an email with details of what you’ve ordered and paid, and your address.
2. Bank transfer:
Bank HSBC
Account holder A J Gray
Sort Code 40-36-05
Account no.51010085

Then, again, send an email to me with details of what you’ve ordered and paid, and your address.

Celebrate! Wednesday, December 5, 7pm: a celebratory meal with a seasonal spirit in The Bear, Market Square, Llandovery.